Abstract
A basic research for tailored blank welding between mild steel and Zn-coated steel was carried out with $CO_2$ laser beam. The materials used in this work were low carbon steel sheet with a thickness of 1.2mm and Zn-coated steel sheet with the same thickness and 6.3$\mu$m Zn coating. Experiments were carried out by applying the Taguchi method in order to obtain optimized conditions for the application of tailored blank laser welding method in practical manufacturing process. Optical microscopy, XRD, SEM and TEM analysis were performed to observe microstructures and to determine the solidification mode of welded zone. Also mechanical properties were measured by microhardness test tensile test and Erichsen test in order to evaluate the formability of welded specimen. There was no trapped Zn in the fusion zone, and the phases in this region consisted of polygonal ferrite, quasi-polygonal ferrite, banitic ferrite and martensite. The elongation value of welded specimen was more than 80% of that value in the substrate and LDH value was more than 90% of that value in the substrate metal.
